Proper diet and nutrition: Taking vitamins in prescribed limit

I am continuing from my previous blog about proper diet and nutrition.

Taking vitamins is many times essential but the consumption must be controlled and self medication avoided.

Deficiency Diseases: A condition produced by dietary or metabolic deficiency.

Vitamin A deficiency causes disorders of vision e.g. Xerophthalmia or night blindness

Thiamine deficiency causes Beriberi, peripheral neuropathy, Wernicke Encephalopathy.

Niacin deficiency causes Pellagra.

Riboflavin deficiency shows corneal vascularization, dyssebacia, and anemia.

Vitamin B 6 deficiency causes irritability, weakness, depression, dizziness, peripheral neuropathy

Vitamin B12 & Folic acid deficiency leads to anemia (macrocytic anemia, and megaloblastic anemia.)

Vitamin C deficiency leads to scurvy.

Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children & Osteomalacia in adults.

Vitamin E deficiency is associated with hemolytic anemia, thrombocytosis, edema, intraventricular hemorrhage, and increasing risk of retrolental fibroplasia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Vitamin K deficiency causes increased tendency to hemorrhage/ bleeding.

A good multivitamin is the foundation of health and nutrition. But as said anything in excess is harmful.

Water soluble vitamins - such as the B group vitamins and vitamin C - cannot be stored by the body to any great extent, so if you take in more than your body needs, they are simply excreted. However, the fat soluble vitamins A and D can accumulate in the body, but pose no danger to your health if consumed within the safe upper limits indicated for them.

Hypervitaminosis means you having too much of a certain vitamin stored in your body.

Vitamin A: Effects include birth defects liver problems, reduced bone mineral density that may result in osteoporosis coarse bone growths skin discoloration hair loss excessive skin dryness/peeling (desquamation)

Vitamin D: An excess of vitamin D causes abnormally high blood concentrations of calcium (hypercalcemia), which can cause overcalcification of the bones, soft tissues, and kidneys. It can also damage the kidney and produce kidney stones.

Vitamin E: Excess of vitamin E can act as an anticoagulant and may increase the risk of bleeding problems.

So take proper supplement of vitamins but with care that you do not take them in excess. Eat a good balanced and properly controlled diet with all nutrients so as to avoid the need of supplements. But in case you do require them take them with care and proper medical advice. Just to avoid any problems and make proper use.

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases/malnutrition/en/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deficiency_diseases

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_poisoning